Caption: Ileostomy in rectal cancer. Close-up of an ostomy bag attached to the abdomen of a 70-year-old male patient following laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) to treat rectal carcinoma (bowel cancer). TME is a surgical procedure where a significant length of bowel around the tumour is removed. It is possible to reconnect the intestines but most patient's require a temporary ileostomy before the final surgery can be carried out. Ostomy bags provide a means for the collection of bodily waste from a surgically diverted biological system, such as the colon (colostomy), ileum (ileostomy) and urinary system (urostomy). Here, the patient is wearing a special belt to help keep the bag in place.